IPL 2019: 8th Match, Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals - Weather Report
Credits: BCCI

Bowling has been Sunrisers Hyderabad’s strength this season. The bowlers have managed to restrict the oppositions to modest totals on most of the occasions. However, on Thursday (May 17), they were at the receiving end of a stunning batting display from Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Kane Williamson’s decision to bowl first was proven totally wrong by the Royal Challengers as they piled up a mammoth 218 for 6 in the allotted 20 overs. The Sunrisers started the proceedings with the ball on a good note. Sandeep Sharma dismissed Parthiv Patel for just one before Virat Kohli was sent back for just 12 by Rashid Khan. However, it was not the precursor of the things that were to follow.

AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali changed the course of the game by adding 107 runs for the third wicket. De Villiers scored 69 off 39 with the help of 12 fours and a six. while Moeen departed after scoring 65 off 34. Colin de Grandhomme then blasted 40 off just 17 while Sarfraz Khan slammed 22 off 8 to finish proceedings strongly.

Royal Challengers Bangalore
Credits: BCCI

In reply, Kane Williamson and Manish Pandey’s fifties kept the Sunrisers in hunt. However, the score turned out to be too much in the end as the Sunrisers were restricted to 204.

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Addressing the media after the loss, Manish Pandey rued his side’s poor death bowling, admitting that his side gave away extra 15-20 runs.

“Overall 215-220 was a lot on this wicket. We gave away about 70 runs in the last five overs. Colin de Grandhomme played well, Sarfraz Khan got quick runs…we should have given them only 190-200, that’s what our plan was but such games do happen. It was a nice wicket but we should work as a bowling team together,” said Pandey.

The equation was finally down to 20 off the last over. However, Williamson departed on the very first ball and Sunrisers could only manage five.

“Twenty runs. Kane was on strike, first ball when a wicket goes sometimes it is difficult to come up from there. Mohammed Siraj bowled really well to get those yorkers right on the spot. Probably if I would have connected a couple, we would have come closer but they bowled better in the last five overs than us. That was the difference,” said the 28-year-old.

RCB SRH
Courtesy: BCCI

The match, nonetheless, saw Pandey regaining his form, scoring an unbeaten 62 off 38 deliveries.

“Yes definitely (it was a good knock). Me and everybody had been waiting for this. Special knock I thought. Bangalore is pretty close to me, this was one of the chances where I thought that if I get to bat with balls in hand… I was preparing myself play accordingly and opened up,” he said.

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“It was quite okay for me till now, not as much as what I expected but it is high time. We have qualified but waiting for the right time and even if I peak now trying to win games for my team I will be really happy by the end of the season.”

Pandey concluded by lauding Williamson who scored 81.

IPL 2018: We Should Work As A Bowling Team Together: Manish Pandey
Credits: BCCI

“(He has done) very well. He has got about 600 runs this IPL already. He has been batting really well. Captaincy… he has been using the bowlers really well. He is understanding the culture of the team and how to bring in our main spinners like Rashid Khan and Shakib Al Hasan. They have been taking wickets for us and are real assets. To control the game from there and the way the bowlers are responding, he has been fantastic till now and we hope he continues (in the same manner) till the end,” concluded Pandey.

 

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